Neurocognitive Disorders in Aging [Paperback]

Daniel Kempler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 20, 2004 | ISBN-10: 076192163X | ISBN-13: 978-0761921639 | Edition: 1

Neurocognitive Disorders in Aging offers an excellent introduction to the common disorders that cause cognitive and related behavioral impairments in older people. The book prepares readers to readily identify abnormal behavior and make inferences about the underlying pathology, likely diagnoses, and possible treatment of those disorders. Throughout the book, author Daniel Kempler emphasizes the links between brain dysfunction, cognitive impairment, diagnosis, and treatment.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Kempler has accomplished a great deal with this book. It provides comprehensive, sophisticated, and highly accessible coverage of a vast and important area. Clinicians, researchers, and students from several disciplines will find this text extremely useful due to its thoroughness and scope. And, almost as important in practical terms, the book is easy to read."

(Hiram Brownell, Ph.D. )

"Daniel Kempler's book has a wonderfully clear, smooth teaching voice which brings clarity to difficult topics. The emphasis on treatment strategies in addition to assessment strategies stands out, as does the attention to successful and normal aging as well as pathology. The book serves well as an introduction for practitioners and students who are working with the elderly and want to expand their knowledge of neurobehavioral issues, as well as a refresher or quick reference for more advanced readers."

(Laura M. Clark, Ph.D. )

"This comprehensive and lucid book provides a unified and principled look at neurogenic disorders in aging. Nothing quite like it exists. Many professions provide service to individuals with such problems. Similarly, many professions are involved in furthering research with them. But they seldom speak a common language or a share a common understanding of them. Dr. Kempler's book provides the way for all of us to interact. . . and it follows naturally, that individuals who have these disorders should benefit."

(Audrey L. Holland, Ph.D. )

"This book is a lucidly written, comprehensive treatment of the language and other cognitive disorders associated with aging. Professor Kempler does a super job of weaving in basic information, recent research, and rehabilitation approaches in his descriptions of such phenomena as aphasia and dementia in elders. I'd recommend it to students, clinicians, researchers, and educated caretakers alike."

(Lorraine Obler )

"Neurocognitive Disorders in Aging is a well-written and comprehensive treatment of cognitive changes occurring in older individuals. The volume integrates an impressive amount of neuropsychological and neuroscience data to provide an informative discussion of neuropsychological syndromes including aphasia, agnosia, amnesia, and visuospatial deficits. Delirium and dementia are thoroughly described from a neurocognitive perspective. Neurocognitive Disorders in Aging is a rare blend of advanced neuroscience information and practical suggestions making the volume worthwhile from both theoretical and practical perspectives. This book describes disorders of aging and successful aging and contrasts neuropsychological function of aged and young individuals. Practitioners in neuropsychology, linguistics, speech therapy, physical rehabilitation, occupational therapy, neuropsychology, neurology, neuropsychiatry and behavioral neurology will find this book to be a useful addition to their libraries."

(Jeffrey L. Cummings, M.D. )

"This book is very well written and delightful to read. The book is well structured, and the presentation of each chapter is straightforward. It is an excellent introduction to the different disorders that can cause cognitive and behavioral problems in older individuals, but it also constitutes a valuable source of information with regard to normal aging. This book is practical and is versatile: It is useful for students and professionals with no previous experience in the field for people who wish to expand their knowledge about a specific topic, and also for specialists in the field willing to update and refresh their knowledge and skills in this area." (Sven Joubert )

About the Author

Daniel Kempler earned Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Linguistics and obtained clinical training and a certificate of clinical competence in Speech-Language Pathology.  Since 2002, he has been Professor and Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Emerson College in Boston.  Prior to this, he held simultaneous positions as Professor in the Schools of Medicine and Gerontology at the University of Southern California and Director of the Speech and Hearing Clinics at the Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center.  He has worked as both a teacher and a clinician.  Dr. Kempler's research centers around the theme of understanding the neurological and psychological processes underlying speech and languge abilities by studying communication disorders due to brain injury.  In collaboration with colleagues, he has developed several tests used to assess understanding of idioms and proverbs, non-verbal reasoning, and sentence comprehension, as well as a battery to assess dementia in several cultural and language groups.  He has written or co-authored more than 100 journal articles and book chapters.  He provides professional and community service in many areas, from initiating and coordinating a support group for Parkinsonians and their families, to serving as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Speech-Language Hearing Research and a member of the Board of Governors of the Academy of Aphasia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc; 1 edition (July 20, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076192163X
• ISBN-13: 978-0761921639
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,533,028 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Normal Aging vs. Disorders, August 25, 2004

By 

Glaikit Boeotian - See all my reviews

This review is from: Neurocognitive Disorders in Aging (Paperback)

As an 80-year old man, I consulted the author about aging events that I feared might indicate "disorders." Though his book was intended for students and professionals, I decided to read it. Most of it was not at all difficult to understand and it dealt with all of the subjects I was concerned about. Especially important, it makes clear which changes occur with normal aging, and which may indicate disease or problems to be evaluated for possible treatment. I recommend the book to any thoughtful or concerned person who comes in contact with older people, whether in their family or at work. I wish that my regular healthcare professionals had read it; they could have saved me considerable concern.